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Neill Watson – In Memoriam

Neill Watson, 23rd January 1965 – 13th April 2021

IN MEMORIAM

Neill Watson, Digital Media Manager, Yorkshire Air Museum.

During the past 5 years, Neill Watson worked diligently behind the scenes to create the Yorkshire Air Museum’s digital  profile and own unique voice on many social media platforms. 

Many will remember Neill for his friendly and uplifting posts aimed at the young at heart who, like him, are passionate about our aircraft collection at the museum and our site’s amazing heritage.

Neill was a gifted storyteller, film-maker and photographer with the inspiring quality of always seeking the positive in everything he did. As a supercar instructor and helicopter pilot, he was passionate about wings and wheels and had a particular preference for our majestic Mirage IV which he had the opportunity to film on its journey from France to Elvington four years ago. He had a great eye for inspiring photography and was always looking for new uplifting themes to share with everyone. 

One of his very last creations was the April’s fool story about our famous Halifax Friday 13th taking to the skies with brand new hybrid electric motors which he pretended had been kindly provided by Elon Musk.  Thousands of people loved this inspiring and fun story at a time of epidemic doom and gloom in the country.

Neill passed away unexpectedly of an undiagnosed heart condition on 13th April 2021. 

The Museum is mourning the loss of not only a talented and creative individual but a dear friend and esteemed colleague who we will never forget. 

Neill is survived by his sons Adam and Ben who have pledged to carry on his legacy through Winward Media which Neill created with them.

We are extremely grateful to Adam and Ben for also staying with us while they carry on this journey to ensure that Neill’s voice and his stories about the museum continue to be heard.  

Barbara George, Museum Director, 3rd May 2021

If you are a journalist and require more info about this story don’t hesitate to email pr@yorkshireairmuseum.org

Blackburn Mercury Monoplane 1911 (Replica) AH (BAPC) 130 YAM Jan.1995

The Blackburn Mercury Monoplane is regarded as the first truly successful aircraft made by Blackburn at their factory in Leeds. The Mercury I, powered by a 50 hp Isaacson radial engine, was displayed at the Olympia Aero Show in March 1911 and made its debut flying from the beach at Filey with the newly formed Blackburn Flying School. In May 1911, it flew from Filey to Scarborough and back in 19 minutes at an average speed of 50 mph, reaching an altitude of 1200 feet.
This aircraft crashed the next day when the engine seized and the propeller flew off! The Mercury I was followed by two Mercury II aircraft powered by 50 hp Gnome engines, and six Mercury III aircraft, with a number of different engines. Sadly, a Renault powered Mercury crashed at Filey in December 1911, killing an instructor and passenger.
The Museum’s replica was built for Yorkshire Television in 1979 for the Edwardian drama series ‘Flambards’, and was taxied with a car engine. It came to YAM on 10th January 1995 and after a long period in storage it was painstakingly restored to a superb display standard, and was unveiled in June 2000 by Professor Robert Blackburn, grandson of Robert Blackburn, the aviation pioneer.

AVRO 504K ‘H1968’ (Replica) AH (BAPC) 42 YAM Oct. 1994

The Avro 504 first flew in 1913. In the opening phases of the First World War, it served with front-line squadrons in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service for bombing and reconnaissance, but from 1915 onwards the aircraft entered the training role for which it is most celebrated.

Over 8,000 Avro 504s were built. In 1918, the Royal Air Force had about 3,000, of which 2,276 were trainers.

The Avro 504 was stationed at many Yorkshire airfields, including Tadcaster near the A1/A64 junction, where a period hangar can still be seen.

The Yorkshire Air Museum’s replica was built by apprentices at RAF Halton and appeared at the Royal Tournament in 1968 to commemorate what was then fifty years since the end of the First World War. The aircraft was refurbished in early 2015 to be transported to Thiepval, Northern France, for the Somme Centenary commemoration event, on request of the British Government. In May 2018, it was also displayed at the impressive Hotel Les Invalides in central Paris for a joint RAF / French Air Force event to mark the Centenary of the Royal Air Force and over 100 years of British and French Air Force collaboration.